Ranking of Palme d'Or Winners (That I've Seen)

With the latest Cannes Film Festival now underway, what better time to rank the winners of the Palme d'Or (that i've seen). The Palme d'or is one of the most prestigious awards in film, maybe even more so than the Oscars because anyone can win Palme d'Or but it is the same for the Oscars, lets be realistic, no foreign language film is gonna win Best Picture anytime soon.

But here is the list (also I have at least four winners of the award at home waiting to be watched and i'll add them during the festival).

22. Rome, Open City (1946, Dir. Roberto Rossellini)

After watching other Italian Neo-realist films such as Bicycle Thieves and Umberto D. I was looking forward to watching this but was disappointed. I found the plot had no clear direction from the beginning and by the time I picked it up I lost interest. You should probably watch this film for its importance but I wouldn't watch it again.

27. Dheepan (2015, Dir. Jacques Audiard)

Dheepan chronicles the story of three immigrants from Sri Lanka and their transition in France. When going into the cinema to watch this I was excited even though I have never seen an Audiard movie before but he has an Oscar and with this the Palm d'Or so why wouldn't I be? After leaving the cinema I was disappointed. While I don't mind glacial pacing during a movie here it just feels pointless and combined with hard to like characters and an extremely jarring ending, I didn't like this movie very much

20. La Dolce Vita (1960, Dir. Federico Fellini)

Fellini is easily one of the most influence directors of all-time and I was eager to watch his films but I struggle with what he is trying to say throughout his films and I think La Dolce Vita is his best work. It's too long and it has some great characters I would like them to engage in a more conventional plot.

19. The Pianist (2002, Dir Roman Polanksi)

The Pianist isn't a bad film it's just an emotional one that doesn't stick with you the way other holocaust films do. When deciding upon the ranking of this film I forgot what I thought about it and had to remind my self by looking it up. However I would like to highlight Adrian Bordy's performance in the movie as he held the movie together very well.

18. MASH (1970, Dir. Robert Altman)

Easily one of the most iconic movies of Robert Altman's filmography didn't leave much of an impression on me. While it has its great comedic moments and a compelling cast against the backdrop of the Korean War it failed to impress me the way other Altman

films have.

17. Wild at Heart (1990, Dir. David Lynch)

If Mulholland Dr or Blue Velvet had won the Palme d'Or i'm sure it would be top 3 at the very least but Wild at Heart is far from Lynch's best but remains an essential part of his filmography. The film was notoriously booed after the screening and after it was announced as the winner but with Lynch's surreal style and tropes as film maker that is to be expected.

16. The Conversation (1974, Dir. Francis Ford Coppola)

Shot between the first two godfather movies, The Conversation was a passion project for Coppola and one that is often overshadowed by his other crowning achievements. Before Coppola showed off what he could do with sound in Apocalypse Now he did it here in one of the few thrillers to use sound (outside of Hitchcock) that so perfectly complements the narrative.

15. The Class (2008, Dir. Laurent Cantet)

The Class, today may seem like a weaker pick for the top prize for not only the other winners but the films from that year too but it doesn't mean it's a bad film by any stretch of the imagination. Over the course of a year at school we see how the relationship between teachers students change in a classroom. The movie is a mature piece into the examination of the aforementioned concept. It avoids cliches and is backed by subtle directing, in particular the camera work.

14. The Third Man (1949, Dir. Carol Reed)

The Third Man, was the first movie to solely win the Palm d'Or as the previous year had a 12 way tie. The movie is known for Orson Welles, Joesph Cotten and the pioneering use of dutch angles. In 1999 the BFI had a poll to determine the top 100 british films of all-time The Third Man was voted number 1. While not my favorite British film it is certainly an essential film

13. Blow-Up (1966, Dir. Michelangelo Antonioni)

I recently reviewed this movie (along with Blow Out) and if you have read that you know that I admire this film but I prefer Blow Out and I don't think I need recap my thoughts on the movie when you can read them here.

12. Barton Fink (1991, Dir. Joel and Ethan Coen)

Barton Fink can easily be described as the movie that put the Coen brothers on the map and for a reason. It's always been hard to describe on what makes a Coen brothers film and here is one of their finest examples. Barton Fink is a playwright who has moved to Hollywood to write films, but he is suffering from writers block. John Turturro has never been better here and he won the best actor award as well.

11. Pulp Fiction (1994, Dir. Quentin Tarantino)

No other movie (maybe except Titanic) has stuck in the psyche of pop culture from the 90s the way Pulp Fiction has. Many consider Tarantino one of the greatest directors living but I would rather think of him as one of the greatest writers of all-time. If it be burgers, foot massages, robbing diners or what's for breakfast Pulp Fiction is always a great film to listen too.

10. Paris, Texas (1984, Dir. Wim Wenders)

Four of the next Five movies are about relationship between two people but in Paris, Texas the couple at hand are only seen together for the first time towards the end. Never the less Wim Wenders gives us a slow paced film that pays off emotional ways. This is a movie you don't have an excuse of not seeing soon because it's on Netlfix (unless you don't have Netflix).

9. The White Ribbon (2009, Dir. Michael Haneke)

The first of two consecutive wins for Michael Haneke after years of winning other awards at the festival. The White Ribbon explores the beginnings of Nazism before and after WW1. There is not single lead character (yet there is a narrator who is recounting his story). The child actors in this movie give chilling performances and ones that won't be forgotten too soon.

8. Blue is the Warmest Colour (2013, Dir. Abdellatif Kechiche)

The winning normally comes with some controversy, whether that be a bad film was chosen, the subject matter of the film or in this case the way the relationship was presented through the male eye of the director. I talked about Blue of the Warmest Colour recently in my top five comic book adaptions but so i'll just add that the controversial part of the movie isn't why you should watch the movie.

7. Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964, Dir. Jacques Demy)

I admit this musical romance movie may not be for everyone, especially since every single word is sung. After you get over the singing, you can witness a relationship build and be tested as they are split up due to our male protagonist being drafted to fight in Algeria. Along with sets that are more colourful then a field of flowers you won't forget this film anytime soon.

6. Amour (2012, Dir. Michael Haneke)

Not only did this small scale french film win the Palme d'Or but it went on to garner five Oscar nominations and winning one for best foreign film. If you have been to JB-HI-FI and if you've ever looked at the foreign section just look at the cover of amour, enough said.

5. 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days (2007, Dir. Cristian Mungiu)

While the film world may not have known when they sat down to watch this movie in 2007 that they were watching the quintessential Romanian not only their New Wave but maybe all-time. This is haunting, realistic movie hits you with a bang and it stays with you for a long time afterwards.

4. Taxi Driver (1976, Dir. Martin Scorsese)

While 'Mean Streets' and 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore' got Scorsese's name out there this was the one that made them never forget it. Of all the films on this list a part from Pulp Fiction you've probably seen this or know what it is about. But seriously, if you haven't seen this movie, do.

3. The Tree of Life (2011, Dir. Terrence Malick)

While the opening sequence of the creation of the Universe may bore people, when the story begins it's certainly one that you won't forget. It's not hard to say what made the directing good because Malick and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki had a dogma (set of rules). With the Dogma, Malick is able to bring a grand vision into something with great style and deep emotional substance.

2. All That Jazz (1979, won in 1980, Dir. Bob Fosse)

When people think 1979 in film they think Apocalypse Now but your mind should also go to 'All That Jazz'. Bob Fosse directed, co-wrote and choreographed this movie but to add to it, it's semi-autobiographical. Based on Fosse's experience during the editing of his previous movie 'Lenny' and producing his next Broadway musical 'Chicago' (the one that was adapted for the big screen and won the Best Picture, Oscar in 2002). With the combination of great directing, editing and choreography this movie certainly leave a mark on you.

1. Apocalypse Now (1979, Dir. Francis Ford Coppola)

While it wasn't the Apocalypse Now we know today that won the award, as a work in progress cut was presented, the movie still deserves top place on my list. Many have wondered how this movie managed to be as good as it is, since the production was riddle with setbacks and issues but thankfully Coppola had the best team working with him. Thanks to the cinematography, editing, sound mixing and acting this is a film that will go down indefinitely in movie history.

What films are your favorites that have won the Palme d'Or. Did you agree with my choices. I would like to add that including 'The Conversation' everything that ranked higher is at least a 8.5/10 movie, basically this list wasn't easily to compile.

Also, every film that has won the Palm d'Or and isn't here obviously means that I haven't seen it but here are the ones that I might update the list soon with because I have them at home.

The Lost Weekend (1945, Dir. Billy Wilder)

The Tin Drum (1979, Dir. Volker Schlöndorff)

Secrets & Lies (1996, Dir. Mike Leigh)

Taste of Cherry (1997, Dir. Abbas Kiarostami)

Winter Sleep (2014, Dir. Nuri Bilge Ceylan)

I'll be back with the Venice Film Festival in August with my favorite Golden Lion Winners.